Lighting device for motor vehicles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An interior lighting system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
- a lighting assembly adapted for mounting within the interior of the vehicle, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry; and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises at least one of;
a) a non-linear resistance network connected with said at least one white light emitting diode;
b) a pulse width modulation circuit connected with said at least one white light emitting diode; and
c) a protective diode connected with said at least one white light emitting diode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting device for attachment to a motor vehicle inside a housing 4. One or more light emitting diodes 9 which emit substantially white light are employed as lighting emitters. On account of the small amount of waste heat of the light-emitting diodes 9 the lighting device can be particularly easily integrated into existing subassemblies of the motor vehicle, in particular into the outside mirrors, inside mirror, trim strips and door handles, and can serve to illuminate the region around the vehicle or the interior of the vehicle.
297 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An interior lighting system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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a lighting assembly adapted for mounting within the interior of the vehicle, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry; and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises at least one of;
a) a non-linear resistance network connected with said at least one white light emitting diode;
b) a pulse width modulation circuit connected with said at least one white light emitting diode; and
c) a protective diode connected with said at least one white light emitting diode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
said transparent cover comprises a plastic material.
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12. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said module comprises a module housing and a transparent cover and wherein said module housing and said cover are manufactured jointly in a multicomponent injection molding process.
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13. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a clip connection connecting said transparent cover to said module housing.
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17. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
a temperature sensor, said electrical circuitry controlling the current supply to said at least one white light emitting diode as a function of temperature measured by said temperature sensor.
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18. The interior lighting system in accordance with claims 1, further comprising:
a light-guiding element for said at least one white light emitting diode.
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19. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said light-guiding element comprises a tube.
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20. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said lighting assembly is included in an existing subassembly of the vehicle.
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21. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said lighting assembly is included as part of an interior rear-view mirror of the vehicle.
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22. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said lighting assembly is included as part of a trim element of the vehicle.
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24. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said lighting assembly comprises a reading lamp.
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25. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lighting assembly comprises an interior-cabin illuminating lamp.
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26. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
another lighting assembly adapted for attachment to the vehicle including another at least one white light emitting diode, said another lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode that individually emits substantially white light when electrically powered.
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27. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 26, wherein said another lighting assembly is adapted for attachment to an outside rear-view mirror of the vehicle.
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28. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 21, wherein said lighting assembly is removable from said interior rear-view mirror of the vehicle.
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29. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said lighting assembly is removable from said trim element of the vehicle.
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30. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lighting assembly includes a lens.
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31. The interior lighting system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lighting assembly comprises at least a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode and wherein said first light emitting diode has a first light beam axis and said second light emitting diode has a second light beam axis, said second light beam axis being parallel to said first light beam axis.
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10. The interior lighting system in accordance with clam 9, wherein:
said transparent cover has a diode side facing said at least one white light emitting diode, said transparent cover diode side comprising a lens.
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14. An interior lighting system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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a lighting assembly adapted for mounting within the interior of the vehicle, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry; and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a non-linear resistance network connected with said at least one white light emitting diode.
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15. An interior lighting system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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a lighting assembly adapted for mounting within the interior of the vehicle, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry; and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a pulse width modulation circuit connected with said at least one white light emitting diode.
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16. An interior lighting system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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a lighting assembly adapted for mounting within the interior of the vehicle, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry; and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a protective diode connected with said at least one white light emitting diode.
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23. An interior lighting system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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a lighting assembly adapted for mounting within the interior of the vehicle, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry;
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises at least one of;
a) a non-linear resistance network connected with said at least one white light emitting diode;
b) a pulse width modulation circuit connected with said at least one white light emitting diode; and
c) a protective diode connected with said at least one white light emitting diode; and
wherein said lighting assembly comprises at least one of a reading lamp, a console-illuminating lamp, a shelf-illuminating lamp, a glove-compartment illuminating lamp, an interior-cabin illuminating lamp, an ash-tray illuminating lamp, and a gear-shift lever illuminating lamp.
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32. A lighting assembly/interior rear-view mirror system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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an interior rear-view mirror assembly, said interior rear-view mirror assembly comprising a mirror housing having a driver side portion and a passenger side portion, said interior rear-view mirror assembly further comprising a mirror mount for attachment of said interior rear-view mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle;
a lighting assembly incorporated in said interior rear-view mirror assembly, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry;
wherein said lighting assembly radiates light downward from said interior rear-view mirror assembly; and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises at least one of;
a) a non-linear resistance network connected with said at least one white light emitting diode;
b) a pulse width modulation circuit connected with said at least one white light emitting diode; and
c) a protective diode connected with said at least one white light emitting diode. - View Dependent Claims (33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 45, 46)
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34. A lighting assembly/interior rear-view mirror system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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an interior rear-view mirror assembly, said interior rear-view mirror assembly comprising a mirror housing having a driver side portion and a passenger side portion, said interior rear-view mirror assembly further comprising a mirror mount for attachment of said interior rear-view mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle;
a lighting assembly incorporated in said interior rear-view mirror assembly, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry;
wherein said lighting assembly radiates light downward from said interior rear-view mirror assembly;
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises at least one of;
a) a non-linear resistance network connected with said at least one white light emitting diode;
b) a pulse width modulation circuit connected with said at least one white light emitting diode; and
c) a protective diode connected with said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said mirror housing includes said lighting assembly;
wherein said mirror housing includes said lighting assembly; and
wherein said lighting assembly comprises a driver side lighting assembly attached to said driver side portion of said mirror housing.
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35. A lighting assembly/interior rear-view mirror system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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an interior rear-view mirror assembly, said interior rear-view mirror assembly comprising a mirror housing having a driver side portion and a passenger side portion, said interior rear-view mirror assembly further comprising a mirror mount for attachment of said interior rear-view mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle;
a lighting assembly adapted incorporated in said interior rear-view mirror assembly, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry;
wherein said lighting assembly radiates light downward from said interior rear-view mirror assembly; and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises at least one of;
a) a non-linear resistance network connected with said at least one white light emitting diode;
b) a pulse width modulation circuit connected with said at least one white light emitting diode; and
c) a protective diode connected with said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said mirror housing includes said lighting assembly; and
wherein said lighting assembly comprises a passenger side lighting assembly attached to said passenger side portion of said mirror housing.
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41. A system in accordance with clam 32, further comprising a lens arranged in a beam path emitted by said at least one first white light emitting diode.
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42. A lighting assembly/interior rear-view mirror system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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an interior rear-view mirror assembly, said interior rear-view mirror assembly comprising a mirror housing having a driver side portion and a passenger side portion, said interior rear-view mirror assembly further comprising a mirror mount for attachment of said interior rear-view mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle;
a lighting assembly incorporated in said interior rear-view mirror assembly, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry;
wherein said lighting assembly radiates light downward from said interior rear-view mirror assembly; and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a non-linear resistance network connected with said at least one white light emitting diode.
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43. A lighting assembly/interior rear-view mirror system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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an interior rear-view mirror assembly, said interior rear-view mirror assembly comprising a mirror housing having a driver side portion and a passenger side portion, said interior rear-view mirror assembly further comprising a mirror mount for attachment of said interior rear-view mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle;
a lighting assembly incorporated in said interior rear-view mirror assembly, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry;
wherein said lighting assembly radiates light downward from said interior rear-view mirror assembly; and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a pulse width modulation circuit connected with said at least one white light emitting diode.
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44. A lighting assembly/interior rear-view mirror system suitable for use in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:
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an interior rear-view mirror assembly, said interior rear-view mirror assembly comprising a mirror housing having a driver side portion and a passenger side portion, said interior rear-view mirror assembly further comprising a mirror mount for attachment of said interior rear-view mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle;
a lighting assembly incorporated in said interior rear-view mirror assembly, said lighting assembly including at least one white light emitting diode;
electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to said at least one white light emitting diode;
wherein said at least one white light emitting diode individually emits substantially white light when said at least one white light emitting diode is powered by said electrical circuitry;
wherein said lighting assembly radiates light downward from said interior rear-view mirror assembly; and
wherein said electrical circuitry comprises a protective diode connected with said at least one white light emitting diode.
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Specification